COLLEGE lecturers in Clydebank are vowing to escalate strike action throughout May if pay equality isn’t brought in across Scotland.

The lecturers said Colleges Scotland has reneged on a deal to ensure equal pay across the country, starting from April.

Instead, they said, there are differences of up to £12,000 depending on which college lecturers work at.

The lecturers’ union, EIS, said agreed target dates for implementation and bringing all terms and conditions into line have also been missed.

Today's strike is the latest day of industrial action and follows one on Tuesday, with two more dates next week and then escalating to three days a week until the end of the month.

Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association said they met with EIS on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Eugene Crummie, Clydebank campus secretary for EIS, told the Post that if pay was to be negotiated nationally, then pay rates should be equal everywhere.

He said: “We want parity. We thought the agreement would be implemented five weeks ago but it never happened.

“Whatever they’re trying to do, it’s unprofessional and immoral. It appears they had no intention of honouring the agreement.”

“We are safeguarding the future of education.”

EIS said as well as ignoring the previous deal, Colleges Scotland will only agree if there are worse conditions such as increased teaching hours, reduced preparation time and reducing annual leave by up to 21 days a year.

Colleges Scotland has branded the lecturers as making “unreasonable demands”.

A spokeswoman for West College Scotland, which is not negotiating directly with lecturers, said: “West College Scotland is doing everything we can to minimise the impact of strike days on our students’ education. We have managed to run a small number of classes and our campuses remain open to students for independent study.

“They are able to access facilities such as libraries, refectories and other shared resources. Our priority continues to be our students and to limit disruption at this important time of the academic year.”

“This is a national dispute concerning lecturers’ pay, terms and conditions. It will have to be resolved on a Scotland-wide basis and West College Scotland hopes that for the sake of our students it is resolved sooner, rather than later.”

The next scheduled strikes are set to take place on May 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and June 1.